Bamboo Ranch

05/08/2024

11/06/2024

Bamboo Care in the Southwest in June

If your bamboo begins to look stressed in the heat, first check if it is adequately watered. If it has plenty of water, DO NOT give it more! It can only use as much as it can transpire. Bamboo is a grass and needs a wet-dry cycle; constantly wet soil is bad! (There are
a few uncommon species which are exceptions to this rule, for instance River Cane)

Instead, continue watering as needed but also shade the plant temporarily with whatever is handy - if too big to shade easily, shade the surrounding soil (lawn furniture works well for this.).

Now, everyone wash their cat* and wait hopefully for monsoon.

(* stolen from funny exchange about making it rain on TBG page long ago)

27/03/2024

17/03/2024

WANT TO BUY NURSERY POTS!

Bamboo Ranch will buy your used LARGE (15 GALLON - 18" tall, 16" diameter) nursery pots (see photo).

Can use a few or a truckload, will pay generously for pots in usable condition.

Email [email protected] or phone 520 743 9879. Thanks!

02/03/2024

28/01/2024

Phyllostachys aurea (and many other bamboo species) make good cross country snowshoeing poles!
January 27, 2024.
Holly Finstrom of Bamboo Ranch on the Sunset trail, Catalina Mountains.

14/10/2023

Bamboo eclipse shadows at Bamboo Ranch this morning Oct 14 2023

14/08/2023

The kinder from Khal Chassidim of Casa Grande, Az came to Bamboo Ranch looking for building material for a bamboo structure. While they were here they learned all about this most useful plant! August 13, 2023

05/08/2023

If your bamboo plant is looking stressed and it has plenty of water, SHADE IT until this heatwave is over! A young and/or small plant cannot shade itself until it grows more canes and foliage!

Questions? Send photo and details to [email protected]

12/07/2023

A word to the wise about not releasing non-native predatory insects, from our friends at Spadefoot Nursery!

25/06/2023

Bamboo Ranch is celebrating 20 years in business! It all started on June 23, 2003 when, after growing bamboo for 18 years as a hobby, Matt left his regular job and finally turned a dream into reality. Matt, Holly and Arie would like to thank all the people who helped us along the way, and our customers who have made it all possible. We want to especially thank:

Diane Foray, the late Bob White, the late Harry & Georgia Brauer, Gene Joseph & Jane Evans (Plants for the Southwest), John Stansberry, Kyle Young, David Kalo Fogolini, the Benziger family, Gib Cooper (Tradewinds Bamboo Nursery), Christian Lydick (Imperial Bamboo), Adam & Sue Turtle, Robert Pittman, Joseph Clemens, John Palting, Jacqueline Soule (Gardening With Soule), Kevin Callaghan (Triple A Fertilizer), Sheila Key, Sandy Bevacqua, Tiny et.al. at Verdicon, Robert Saporito (Tropical Bamboo), Rod McKenna Johnson (Arizona Zenscapes), Jack Crane (Crane Machine & Pump), Otis Squires (Yard Tech), Mark & Margaret Sitter (B&B Cactus Nursery), Jared Kitty Katt McKinley & Katy Gierlach (Spadefoot Nursery), Rosie Altamirano, Luis Altamirano Ramirez, Bill Roemer, Sara Lely & Douglas Taylor, Ralph Evans (Bamboo Headquarters), Green Things, Mesquite Valley Growers, Harlow's Nursery, Sunset Nursery, Joe Khoury (Allways Trim & Proper Landscaping), Silverbell Nursery, Cherry Landscape, Natasha Winnik (Originate Natural Building Materials), Abby Wing (Rozet Nursery), Ardy Najafian, Keagan Autry, Grant Beyschau, Oscar Hidalgo, and anyone else we may have missed.
We thank you all!

19/04/2023

Landscaping for the Birds The Southwestern Deserts are home to record numbers of native birds, including shy pyrrhuloxias, sweet phainopeplas , and the charming lesser goldfinches. Our landscapes, done correctly, can invite these natives into the city, as opposed fostering non-native species and dri...

10/04/2023

Do you want instant privacy on your patio? We have many bushy and verdant Chinese Goddess plant starts in stock now that are ready to help! This dwarf hedge species can reach 6-8’ tall, and will create a beautiful living screen. This clumping species will happily thrive in planters, pots, or in the ground.

A large selection of well-established, desert-grown, 15 gallon plant starts of both running and clumping varieties is available here at Bamboo Ranch in Tucson. Visits by appointment Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Contact us at [email protected] or (520)-743-9879 for an appointment.

13/12/2022

BAMBOO IN FREEZING WEATHER:

Hello people in Tucson area with bamboo plants wondering when and if to cover their plants:

Bambusa multiplex (clumping hedge bamboo) varieties do not need covering as they are hardy to low teens F.

Most other clumpers can take it down to the upper teens without leaf damage from freezing. Tropical varieties do need to be covered.

All runners are cold hardy, many down to zero or below. Don't bother to cover, runners love winter weather in the southwest.

Now, frost is another story. Foliage from even cold hardy varieties of clumpers sometimes do not look their best after being exposed to frost. So covering for a few nights won't hurt them.

If any questions please contact Bamboo Ranch, 520 743 9879 or email [email protected].

20/11/2022

Have you ever wondered what a tour of the Bamboo Ranch looks like? Our condensed virtual tour should give you an idea!

In this short video, get a feel for what it’s like to take a walk through our demonstration gardens and nursery, with your host Holly Finstrom providing helpful information on several of our available species.

To arrange an appointment for a tour, or to select and pick up your plants, contact us at [email protected], [email protected], (520)-743-9879, or message us on Facebook.

Call us at (520)-743-9879 to place an order, or arrange an appointment to enjoy the full experience and see the dozens of other varieties we have available.

For more information on any of these species and others, please check out our “Plants” page on our website (https://www.bambooranch.net/plants), our Instagram, (https://www.instagram.com/bambooranchtucson/), or our Bamboo of the Week videos, here on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/watch/1637856123116923/235664251150205)

17/11/2022

Fall is here and it’s the perfect time to plant bamboo!
Join us for our fall sale: All plants are 10% off for 10 days!
Friday, November 18 - Sunday, November 27, 2022

We are available for appointments all ten days.
To make an appointment to visit:
Phone: (520)-743-9879
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Facebook: https://facebook.com/bambooranchtucson
For more information on our bamboo, please visit our website, bambooranch.net
Can't come in person? Virtual tours on request.
A large selection of well-established, desert-grown, 15 gallon plant starts of both running and clumping varieties is available here at Bamboo Ranch in Tucson. Visits by appointment. Contact us at [email protected] or (520)-743-9879.

12/11/2022

Greenstripe Blowpipe, with its golden canes accented with green barcode-like stripes, gives any garden a tropical flair. Hardy to the mid-teens, this medium-large clumper has large leaves and canes that can grow to over an inch in diameter.
A large selection of well-established, desert-grown, 15 gallon plant starts of both running and clumping varieties is available here at Bamboo Ranch in Tucson. Visits by appointment Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Contact us at [email protected] or (520)-743-9879

07/11/2022

This is Silverstripe Blowpipe Bamboo. This statuesque and tropical looking clumper will produce a lush grove due to its large leaves. While the young plants have lighter green canes, as they mature they will begin to make dark green canes up to 1 1/4” in diameter, accented with thin silver stripes.
A large selection of well-established, desert-grown, 15 gallon plant starts of both running and clumping varieties is available here at Bamboo Ranch in Tucson. Visits by appointment Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Contact us at [email protected] or (520)-743-9879

06/11/2022

Check out the stripes on these leaves! Silverstripe Hedge is one of the largest hedge bamboos, growing to 12-15’ in the desert. Its gorgeous green and white variegated leaves contrast strikingly with its dark green canes, which can reach an inch or more in diameter.
A large selection of well-established, desert-grown, 15 gallon plant starts of both running and clumping varieties is available here at Bamboo Ranch in Tucson. Visits by appointment Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Contact us at [email protected] or (520)-743-9879

03/11/2022

🍁SEASONAL TIPS FOR BAMBOO🍁

Autumn is here! Are some of the leaves turning yellow on your clumping bamboo? It is a completely normal occurrence for yellow leaves to appear amongst the green foliage of your bamboo in the fall. These leaves will turn from yellow to orange and finally to a burnt orange color before drying and falling off. They are then quickly replaced by new green leaves! This process takes about 3-4 weeks to complete. Nothing is wrong; the plants do not need extra water or any special care. There is nothing to do but enjoy the brief “fall colors” on your bamboo! 🍂
A large selection of well-established, desert-grown, 15 gallon plant starts of both running and clumping varieties is available here at Bamboo Ranch in Tucson. Visits by appointment. Contact us at [email protected] or (520)-743-9879

24/10/2022

Autumn is here and it’s time to plant some bamboo! Did you know that fall is the best time of year to plant your bamboo? If you did, then what are you waiting for? Come on down to the Bamboo Ranch to find the perfect addition to your garden this autumn season 🌿
A large selection of well-established, desert-grown, 15 gallon plant starts of both running and clumping varieties is available here at Bamboo Ranch in Tucson. Visits by appointment. Contact us at [email protected] or (520)-743-9879

30/06/2022

A few weeks ago there was a very funny thread where someone was mentioning washing their car to make it rain, but they made a typo and said "washed my cat" instead. A bunch of very funny comments happened and I can't seem to find it. Can anyone tell me what group it came from or any of the people who made comments so I can find it again? One comment was that he didn't have a cat so he washed the neighbor's cat! TIA!

01/06/2022

Please do not poison rodents. You will also poison everything up the food chain. If you must, use a water bucket trap for instance.

20/05/2022

Save The Bees!

Happy world bee day! Did you know the vast majority of bees in the world nest alone on the ground (no hive, queen or workers). Many species, like these Diadasia, build nests in large aggregations I like to call bee neighborhoods.

10/03/2022

Thanks to the U of A Campus Arboretum for this promo in their virtual Plant Festival.

Bamboo Ranch is part urban farm, part botanical garden, part plant nursery, and part botanical germplasm collection. In 1986 Matt and Holly Finstrom began raising "cane" on the west side of Tucson in the foothills of the tiny Tucson Mountains, on their one-acre-plus of caliche and rocks. Since 2003....

22/02/2022

Poles Poles Poles! We've got 'em!
Grown right here in Tucson!

Please visit
https://www.bambooranch.net/poles
for more info.

Have a bamboo project in mind? Contact us for suggestions.

Bamboo Ranch
520 743 9879
[email protected]
www.bambooranch.net

Some of the many projects you can make with bamboo poles:

Wind flutes
Ritual structures
Rain sticks
Walking sticks
Ramadas
Fencing
Trellises
Picture frames
Curtain rods
Flagpoles
Jewelry
Sculptures
Flutes and other instruments
Atlatls and atlatl darts
Tree forts
Water features
Furniture
Yurts/Hoop houses
Greenhouse frames
"Tiki" bars
Gates
Towers
Decorative bridges
Pipes
Bicycle frames
Wind chimes

See https://www.bambooranch.net/

Bamboo Ranch is an urban micro farm with a selection of well-established, desert-grown, 15 gallon bamboo plant starts of both running and clumping varieties, as well as the canes for sale.

Visits by appointment. Contact us at [email protected] or (520)-743-9879.

25/06/2021

Important Announcement from tree people. Cheaper to save your stressed tree than to pay to remove a dead tree. I know there is a seeming contradiction here, as we are supposed to conserve water. However trees do contribute valuable shade and fight the heat island effect.

16/06/2021